It's awful isn't it ?
Only recently I've thought too about maybe trying with nothing
As Ive continuously been on hrt I know no different but there's been 2 very short term occasions I've been without it
First time: I can't remember the year, possibly sept 2014 (wow 2months after that I felt great !) we went to Spain for 11 nights and when we unpacked I realised I'd left my hrt pills at home ! I panicked but honestly felt NO different that holiday
Second time: during the awful pill to patch saga , April 2015, we were going on good Friday to our annual big family meet up at Yarmouth and the Friday travelling was the 4th day of migraine and the motion of travelling in the car brought the pain in my head to a level I couldn't cope with so OH detoured to Norwich A&E , they gave me anti sickness pills but before we could get to the pharmacy I'd puked, headache immediately vanished and I got to the campsite and no one could believe how well I was (OH had forewarned family that I'd probably not be mixing but still be there), Tempest I partied that weekend like I was a teenager again and felt great, it was only fear of the unknown if I remember correctly that I decided to go back on my pills til I could sort a different patch out
I know my 2 episodes weren't for long and so I can't really say either way but I do wonder. I'm just scared of some crash like you describe and that's where I think maybe better the devil you know.
One day I might get so fed up of this battle I do give it a try going alone
X